Chapter 113

Aurora's POV

The medical wing's chaos reminded me of a disaster zone. Healers rushed between beds like they were fighting time itself. Some patients groaned from silver burns. Others lay deathly still while physicians worked frantically over them.

Kane refused to budge from my bedside.

The man had stubbornly planted himself in that uncomfortable chair, refusing to move for anyone or anything. Even when Dr. Ashford assured him my injuries weren't serious, Kane stayed put. His eyes tracked every movement the healers made around me.

"The silver burn will heal cleanly enough," Dr. Ashford said, cleaning my wound with practiced efficiency. "But you need rest. No using that arm for several days minimum. Silver poisoning slows our natural healing to a crawl."

Kane nodded without looking away from my face. I watched emotions war across his features like storm clouds. Guilt. Terror.

His hands kept clenching and unclenching repeatedly. Kane seemed like he was on the verge of falling apart right in front of me.

The attack had done more than breach the stronghold's security. It had shattered Kane's carefully constructed emotional walls like glass hitting concrete. All those weeks of professional distance? Gone. Watching me nearly die had cracked his armor wide open.

"Kane," I said softly, reaching for his hand with my good arm. "I'm okay."

His fingers shook when they touched mine. Actual trembling. This from a man who could disarm three attackers without breaking a sweat.

"You threw yourself in front of a blade meant for me." His voice came out rough. Raw. "You could've died because I couldn't protect you properly."

"You did protect me," I shot back firmly. "We protected each other. That's what partners do."

Something broke inside him at those words. Years of armor just... crumbled. His breathing went funny as he fought emotions that clearly terrified him more than any physical enemy.

"I can't lose you like I lost them," Kane whispered.

The confession seemed torn from somewhere deep in his chest. Words he'd been carrying for years like lead weights.

"My parents died because they cared too much about their cause. I thought if I kept distance, stayed professional, I could keep you safe."

Dr. Ashford must've sensed the moment's intensity because he quietly slipped away. Smart man. The air in that healing chamber felt charged with everything Kane had been holding back.

His composure was completely gone. Just... obliterated. In its place sat a man terrified of losing someone again.

"Your parents died because evil people killed them," I said gently. "Not because they loved their cause. And today? We saved everyone because we worked together. Not in spite of caring about each other."

Kane's head dropped until his forehead rested against our joined hands. His shoulders shook. I'd never seen him this vulnerable. It was like watching a mountain crumble.

"I've been so afraid, Aurora." The words came out muffled. Broken. "Afraid that loving you would make me weak when you needed me strong. But trying to push you away almost got you killed anyway."

The admission cost him visibly. Kane had spent years building walls against vulnerability. Convinced himself that caring too much led to devastating loss. Those walls had become a prison.

"Fear makes us weak," I replied, tracing gentle circles on his hand with my thumb. "Love makes us strong enough to take risks worth taking."

For the first time in weeks, Kane looked at me without barriers. The professional mask was gone. Just the man I'd fallen in love with. Brilliant. Devoted. Terrified of losing people but finally willing to admit it.

"I don't know how to balance it," Kane said with painful honesty. "This feeling like my heart's walking around outside my body. Completely vulnerable to every threat we face."

God, that metaphor hit hard. Our bond had created a connection that made each other's safety feel as crucial as breathing. Terrifying for someone who'd found safety in emotional isolation.

"By trusting me to be your partner," I said simply. "By understanding that we're stronger together than either of us could ever be alone."

Kane went quiet for a long moment. Processing everything that had happened. The attack had forced him to confront reality: his protective strategies had backfired spectacularly. Distance hadn't kept me safer. It had just made us both more vulnerable.

When he spoke again, his voice carried wonder. Like he was seeing something clearly for the first time.

"We make an incredible team." The words came out slowly. Thoughtfully. "When we trust each other completely, when we work together without barriers... Look what we accomplished today."

"We saved everyone," I agreed, feeling hope spark in my chest. "Not because we were perfect. Because we complemented each other's strengths and covered each other's weaknesses."

A soft knock interrupted us. The Alpha King entered with that grave expression he wore during serious moments. He took in Kane's emotional state and my bandaged shoulder. But there was satisfaction in his keen eyes too.

"I've received reports about the battle," the Alpha King said. Relief and concern mixed in his voice. "Your coordination saved countless lives today. The attackers were professionals, but your combined response neutralized them completely."

Kane straightened slightly but didn't release my hand. Didn't try to hide his emotional investment. The change was remarkable. Weeks ago, he would've immediately adopted professional posture in the Alpha King's presence.

"This attack wasn't random, Your Majesty," Kane reported, his voice gaining strength as he focused on analysis. "It was coordinated. Professional. Their equipment, training, and inside knowledge suggest serious financial backing."

"Which you prevented through exceptional teamwork," the Alpha King observed. His eyes noted the change in Kane's demeanor. "I'm told you fought with remarkable synchronization despite being separated initially."

"Aurora organized civilian evacuation while I coordinated military response," Kane explained. "Our combined approach neutralized threats neither of us could've handled alone. The court members responded to her leadership with incredible discipline."

The Alpha King nodded thoughtfully. Like he was processing more than tactical information. His gaze lingered on our joined hands with knowing understanding.

"I've been watching both of you for months," he said. "Trying to understand the unique partnership you've developed. Today proved something important."

He paused. Studied us with that penetrating stare that seemed to see everything.

"Fear makes people weak," the Alpha King continued. "But love, real love between true partners, makes people stronger than they could ever be individually. Your parents understood that, Kane. Their love for each other and their cause gave them courage to fight impossible odds."

Kane's grip on my hand tightened. The Alpha King's words were sinking in like water into parched earth. For the first time, someone was offering him a different perspective on his parents' sacrifice.

"They didn't die because they loved too much," the Alpha King said gently. His voice carried the weight of someone who'd known Kane's parents personally. "They died because evil people feared what they could accomplish together. Just like today, the Rogue King's forces targeted this stronghold because they fear what unified werewolf leadership could accomplish."

I watched Kane process this reinterpretation of his deepest trauma. The guilt and fear that had driven his emotional withdrawal were finally being challenged. By a perspective that honored his parents' memory while validating our partnership.

The Alpha King was transforming Kane's understanding of his own history. Offering a narrative of love as strength rather than weakness. Exactly what he needed to hear from someone whose judgment he respected completely.

"Maybe we don't have to figure out all the emotional complexity right now," I suggested. Giving Kane time to absorb these revelations. "Let's focus on what we know works—us as partners. As a team fighting for something bigger than ourselves."

Kane squeezed my hand. His eyes brightened with something that looked suspiciously like hope.

"One step at a time?" he asked.

"One step at a time," I agreed.

The foundation of trust was starting to rebuild between us. Slowly. Carefully. But it was happening.

The Alpha King smiled with satisfaction. He recognized the breakthrough happening before his eyes.

"Then let's take the first step toward ending this war," he said. "Your investigation into the Rogue King's network has given us crucial intelligence. But we need to act quickly before they can regroup."

As we began planning our next moves, I felt the emotional connection between Kane and me slowly healing. The walls weren't completely down yet. But they were cracking under honest communication and shared purpose.

For the first time in weeks, we were moving forward together instead of struggling against each other.

The Rogue King had made a crucial error today. By attacking the Alpha King's stronghold, he'd forced Kane to choose between fear and love.

And love had won.

Messy, terrifying, absolutely essential love had won.